Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 26
Five EU Nations Urge Broader Tariffs on China as Brussels Prepares Friday Strategy Debate
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 26

Five EU Nations Urge Broader Tariffs on China as Brussels Prepares Friday Strategy Debate

6 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 26
  • France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Lithuania pressed the European Commission to widen tariffs and other trade defenses against China and other countries' abusive practices.
  • A joint non-paper shared on Friday urged Brussels to open unfair-trade probes more often and to build new defensive trade tools, signaling a push for a tougher EU response.
  • The proposal lands as the Commission drafts a more assertive trade-defense policy aimed at Beijing and weighs how to address China's competitive threat.
  • Brussels is due to hold an internal strategy debate next Friday, giving the five-country initiative immediate relevance in shaping the EU's next trade steps.
With key EU firms deepening China ties, can a unified trade defense policy against Beijing truly succeed?
Is the EU's 'de-risking' strategy an illusion if supply chains remain dependent on Chinese upstream goods and capital?